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Rh She replied by a scowl, and by a muttered whisper between her teeth of a very unfeminine kind. Nothing daunted, he still came on; and knowing perfectly the artful character of his opponent, and profiting by her momentary confusion and annoyance at the failure of her weapon, he seized her by both wrists, forced her into a seat and placed himself beside her, still firmly holding both her hands.

"Curse you! What are you going to do to me?"

"Nothing but keep you quiet for a few minutes till I get a chance of getting away."

She laughed scornfully.

"You won't get away. Not even if you kill me. We've got you fast this time."

She glared at him, her face within a foot of his, with eyes full of passionate hate.

"In the mean time I've got you fast, for the moment, and I intend"

She interrupted him, breathing heavily, and almost snorting defiance.

"To humble me, to humiliate me, to treat me as—as"

It was Tregenna's turn to interrupt, which he did with a scorn as steady as her own.